Key facts
- The UK government is launching a review of the National Lottery.
- The review aims to give the public more say in how lottery funds are spent.
- Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated that decisions have historically been made far from the communities they serve.
- The consultation period will last for 12 weeks.
- The National Lottery has raised more than £53 billion for good causes since 1994.
- Allwyn took over the lottery franchise from Camelot in 2022.
The UK government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the National Lottery, marking the first such assessment in over two decades. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced the initiative, emphasizing a commitment to giving the public a more significant role in deciding how the substantial funds generated from ticket sales are allocated.
Nandy stated that millions of people play the lottery weekly and that the money raised is "literally the public's money," asserting they should be "in the driving seat" of its spending. She criticized past decisions for being made remotely and favoring larger organizations over smaller, grassroots initiatives. The government aims to change this by involving the public directly in shaping the future of the lottery.
The consultation process will span 12 weeks and will specifically investigate the distribution methods for lottery proceeds. Since its inception in 1994, the National Lottery has successfully raised over £53 billion for various good causes. The franchise was operated by Camelot until 2022, when Allwyn, a company ultimately owned by Czech billionaire Karel Komárek, secured the 10-year licence following a competitive process that led to legal challenges.